Improvement in boot-cleaners



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' IMPROVEMENT |N Boo-*r-CLEANsus.`

` VSpecification forming -partof Letters Patent No. 199,4Q7fdated January 22, 1878; application filed =`Nvembcr14,l877,.l. i.

To all 'whom it may concer/n; L

Be it known that I, GERRITTF. BLAUvELT,

Y of the city, county, and State of New York,

have invented a new and useful Improvement in Devices for Blacking Boots or yShoes,`which improvement is fully `set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in whichi Figure 1 represents a plan `view of a machine constructed according to my invention, and Fig. 2 is a cross-section thereof.

Similarletters indicate correspondingparts. My improvement has relation to devices for cleaning and polishing boots or shoes; and it consists in the combination of a slidingplatform, `suitable ways for guiding said platform, and lateral brushes for cleaning or polishing the sideparts of the boot or shoe, such brushes being located on opposite sides of the platform or its ways, so that by placing ones foot with the boot or shoe on the platform, and sliding the same back and forth, the side parts of the boot or shoe are repeatedly brought in contact with the lateral brushes, also, in the combination of a sliding platform, suitable ways for guiding said platform, and transverse brushes for cleaning or polishing the top or waist and the toe part of the boot or shoe, such transverse brushes being located above the platform; further, in the combination of a sliding platform, suitable ways for guiding said platform, and a brush for cleaning or polishing the heel of the boot or shoe, such brush being located at one end of the ways. It consists, also, in

i. an inclosing-case having a hinged lid, with which is combined aledge and aweighted blackin g-receptacle, which is hinged to said ledge in such a manner that when said 'lid is shut the blacking-receptacle is brought in contact with said ledge by its weight, whereby the blacking contained in the receptacle is covered or protected, while, when said lid is opened, the blacking-receptacle is laid bare.

In the drawing, the letter A designates a bed, to which are secured ways B B, .forming guides for the sliding platform C of my device. This platform is preferably provided with a heel-plate, a, and a sole-plate, b, and, if desired, it may be mounted on anti-friction rollers.

D D are brushes located on opposite sides of the sliding platform C. These brushes D D lproject over the platform, as shown; and in ,order to allow .thesame to yield to the pressure of thebootor shoeforced Lbetween them, "asihereinafter specified, their' shanks are piv- "oted, ,asl at c, 'andsubjected-to the action of springs d, having a tendency to force them in- Ward.

E E are brushes arranged side by side above the sliding platform C, and transversely thereof, being, moreover, located near one end of the ways B B. These brushes E E have wire shanks, e, which are pivoted like the shanks of the brushes D D, and subjected to the action of springs d', serving to force them inward or toward each other. These brushes E E, moreover, are inclined, so that when a boot or shoe is forced beneath them they sweep over the toe part, and also the waist or top part thereof. F is a brush located at the end of the ways B B, opposite the brushes E E, and which is stationary.

The boot or shoe to be cleaned or polished is held on the sliding platform C byresting ones foot thereon, and is moved backward so as to bring the heel in contact with the brushF, and if the heel is then turned a few times it is cleaned or polished, as the case may be. The foot, with the platform C, is then moved backl ward and forward a number of times, so as to bring the boot or shoe repeatedly in contact with the lateral brushes D D, and also beneath the transverse brushes E E. By the lateral brushes D D the side portions of the boot or shoe are cleaned or polished, while by means of the brushes E E the like object is attained as to the waist or top and toe part of the boot or shoe.

I inclose my device in a case, G, having a hinged lid, H, which, in the example shown, is a counterpart of the case. In the lid H is hinged a blacking-receptacle, J, which is provided with a weight, K. The blacking-receptacle J has a clamp, f, `adapted to hold a blacking-box of ordinary form; but it can also be provided with a cavity to receive the blacking. When the clamp f is used, Iprovide the ledge I with a recess, g, of sufficient size to receive the box held by said clamp. When the lid H is open, as shown, the blacking-re- "ceptacle J is held in such a position as to lay secured a ledge, I, to one edge of which is` bare-its face, or theblacking, bythe action of! thevveightK, While bythe same meanssaid.v

receptacle is turned on its hinges, when the lid Hi s closed to such a position as to bring the face thereof in contact with the ledgeI, Whereby the blacking is covered or protected. rIhe lid H is also provided with brackets h, to support a dauber, L, by means of Which the blacking is applied to the boot or shoe t0 bepolished.

In some cases a supplemental spiral springV is combined with the transverse brushes E, this spring being arranged above said brushes,- and the opposite ends thereof being connected to their shanks, respectively.

What I claim 'as new, and desire to secure by' Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the sliding platform C, Ways B B, for guiding said platform, and lateral brushes D' D, for cleaning or polishing the side parts of the boot or shoe, substantially as described.

2` The combination of the sliding platform O, Ways B B, for guiding said platform, and, transverse brushes E E, for cleaning or polishing the waist and the toe part of the boot or shoe, substantially as described.

3. lInabootor shoeblacking device, the footsupport provided with a heel-brush, F, on a level with and arranged transversely to the side brushes D, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of the case G, its hinged jlid H, the ledge I, and'weighted blacking-receptacle J, hinged to said ledge, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand'and seal.

G. F. BLAUV'ELT. [L. s]

Witnesses:

E. F. KASTENHUBER, GHAs. WAHLERs. 

